<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>Dear OST Friends:
<BR>
<BR>A discussion took place at the Open Space Institute - US board meeting (via
<BR>telephone) last month that is worth sharing. In fact, I took on the
<BR>responsibility to convey this discussion. It had to do with accessibility to
<BR>OST training programs. I began the discussion by asking the question, "Why
<BR>are the training sessions for OST usually so expensive?"
<BR>
<BR>As we talked about this issue, a more important question came out, which was
<BR>how to make training opportunities more accessible for people everywhere.
<BR>The concern I have is, if we recognize a need to be more inclusive in
<BR>bringing people into the OST community, then how do we provide more access to
<BR>training? And cost is certainly one of the barriers we must overcome.
<BR>
<BR>The issue of inclusiveness was one of the prominent themes of the Berlin
<BR>OSonOS this past fall. So the challenge is not just for any single country,
<BR>but a challenge worldwide.
<BR>
<BR>OSI-US has made a commitment to providing help in making OST more available
<BR>to people and groups everywhere who may need assistance. In our membership
<BR>renewal letter that will soon be emailed out, we have stated the following
<BR>guidelines for granting assistance:
<BR>
<BR>"We are setting aside funds to offer assistance for a variety of things
<BR>related to open space. Whether it is providing books or helping to secure a
<BR>facilitator to do training, we can be of help. The goals developed are as
<BR>follows:
<BR>
<BR>· To support under-served areas
<BR>· To support involvement in open space
<BR>· To leverage recipients action and resources with OSI-US actions and funds
<BR>· To have commitments from recipients to share the stories of their OST
<BR>experiences."
<BR>
<BR>We would ask that anyone who can help us improve upon this effort, please do
<BR>so. Raising and dispensing funds is just one idea for making training
<BR>opportunities more accessible to people everywhere. What else might we be
<BR>doing?
<BR>
<BR>Thank you,
<BR>
<BR>David Koehler
<BR>Member, OSI-US Board
<BR>
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